Collapsible tray or carton



Nov. 22, 1949 K. "r. BUTTERY 2,38,704

COLLAPSIBLE TRAY OR CARTON Filed April 9, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIV VENTOR.

Nov. 22, 194% I Filed April 9, 1

' K. T. BU'ITERY COLLAPSIBLE' TRAY 0R CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 erection.

Patented Nov. 22, 1949" UNITED:- 1 PATENT.

- I COLLAPSlBLE TRAY on CARTON Kenneth T. Buttery, Kalamazoo, Mich,assignor to' Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Micln, a corporationof Michigan Application April 9, 1948, Serial No. 19,982

. g g 1 'This invention relates collapsible trays or cartons. v v IThe'main objects of this inventionare: First, to .provide a collapsibletrayor carton formed of an integral bl ll'lk which may beeasily andquickly erected either by-hand or by relatively simple machines designedfor the purpose. Second. to prcvidea tray or box formed of an integralblank which may be shipped or transported in the knockdown and quicklyset up, as above stated, and one which when set up or erected, isrelativel strong and rigid, both the side end walls being supported inan upright position. v

Further objects relating to details and economies of the invention willdefinitely appear from the description to follow. The invention ispointed out in the claims. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus forcarrying out the method of the invention is clearly illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which g Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of abox or. tray embodying my invention in fully erected position. Fig. 2 isa-fragmentary view in longitudinal section illustrating parts inpartially set up or erected position and one of the stages in such toimprovements in Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustratinganother stage in the erection of the parts.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank in the flat.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a modified form orembodiment of my invention with the box in erected position.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the blank in the fiat of themodified form of my invention shown in Fig. 5.

My improved collapsible box or tray is formed of an integral blank shownin the fiat in Fig. 4 and comprising a bottom I, side walls 2-2 and endwalls 33. The side walls are hingedly connected to the bottom by scorelines, conventionally illustrated at 4-4, while the end walls arehingedly connected to the bottom by the scores, conventionallyillustrated at 55. The end walls 33 have corner flaps G6 extending fromthe ends thereof and hingedly connectedthereto at |--1. The end edges8-8 of the side Walls are aligned with the hinging score 5 for the endwalls to the bottom. The hinging scores 1 connecting the corner flaps tothe end walls are aligned with the hinging scores 4,4 connecting theside walls to the bottom. The bottom edges 9 of the corner Q10 Claims.(Cl. 229-) flaps are inclined diagonally outward as viewed z. a disposedat an angle. to the main portions of the slits or at a less anglerelative to the. top or bottom edges of the side walls than the outerportions of the slits as consideredrelative to their open ends. Thisresults in a deflectable side portion l 2 at each end of each side wall.

The corner flaps have inwardly inclined notches l3 in their side edgeswith slits l4 ex tending inwardly from the notches and aligned with thebottom edgesof the notches. This results in triangular'tongu'e-likeportions is which engage within the inner sides of the side walls whenthe parts are in fully erected position with the notches and slits ofthe corner flaps engaged with the slits of the side walls. The cuttingaway and spacing of the inclined bottom edges of the corner flaps fromthe end greatly facilitates the erection of th tray or box, particularlywhen erected by machi In erection the side walls are turned or swungupwardly as indicated, in Fig. 2, preferably in a somewhat inwardlyinclined relation; the end walls are then swung upwardly and the cornerflaps turned inwardly as the end walls are swung to upright position.The corner flaps engage the defiectable portions I2 of the side wallsand move them inwardly so that the inclined bottom edges 9 of the cornerflaps easily pass into the slits of the side walls and completely swingto erected position. When released the side walls spring outwardlyagainst the corner flaps with the bottom edges of the notches and slitsl4 engaging the upper edges of the slits ID of the side walls, and withthe tip portions l5 of the corner flaps locked on the inner side of theside walls as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

While this greatly facilitates machine erection it is also advantageousin hand erection, that is, it is possible to very quickly erect the boxor tray edges of the side walls, as viewed\ in the blank,

-by hand if desired; however, the boxes or trays are used in largecommercial quantities and machine erection is very economical. I

The structure ofthe present application greatly facilitates such machineerection as the inclined lower edges of the end inclined bottom edges ofthe corner flaps pass easily and freely through the slits IU of the sidewalls and the parts become interlocked without special manipulation, andat the same time a very secure retainingengagement is effected with theend edges ofthe side walls abutting the inner sides of the ends, therebyholding both side and end walls in vertical position.

In'the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the end walls have outerportions l6 which are aligned with the hinging score 5 and inwardlyinclined inner portions I I terminating at the slits Hi. This furtherfacilitates the erection of the box or tray as the bottom edges H areengaged by the bottom edges 9 of the corner flaps as the 3 parts aremoved to erected position, thus providing a further camming action inthe deflecting of the "deflectable portions 12 of the side walls.

Otherwise, the parts are as in the structure previously described.

Attention is directed in this connection to my pending applicationSerial No. 638,165, filed December 29, 1945. The present invention is avery substantial improvement on the structure there illustrated in thatit greatly facilitates the erection, both by hand and machine.

I have illustrated and described my invention in highly practical forms,both from the standpoint of the completely erected article andpracticability in both hand and machine erection. I have used the termsside and end walls as matters of convenience in description, but it willbe understood that the boxes or trays are of various shapes and designedfor packaging various articles, pics, for example. It is to believedthat the use of the terms side" and end walls materially simplifies theterminology of the specification and claims. I have not attempted toillustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations of the inventionas it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the artto walls when they are in erected position, the

hinge connections for the corner flaps to the end walls being aligned inthe flat blank with the hinge connection for the side walls to thebottom, the ends of the side walls being in the flat blank aligned withthe hinge connections for the end walls to the bottom, the bottom edgesof the corner flaps in the fiat blank bein spaced from and outwardlyinclined relative to the end edges of the side walls, the side wallshaving slits opening at their end edges and extending diagonally outwardfrom adjacent their bottom edges, the outer end portions of the slitsbeing disposed at a less angle than their inner portions, the cornerflaps having notches downwardly inclined from their side edges oppositetheir hinge connections to the end walls and inwardly extendingdiagonally disposed slits aligned with the lower edges of the notches,the said inclined bottom edges of said corner flaps and thesaid notchesin the said side edges thereof facilitating'entra'nce of the bottomedges of the comer flaps through said slits in said side walls and theengagement of the lower edges of the notches and slits in the side edgesof the corner flaps with the outer edges of the said side wall slits andthe supporting of the end walls when erected in supported engagementwith the end edges of the side walls.

2. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable onthe outer sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, thehinge connections for the corner flaps to the end walls being aligned inthe fiat blank with the hinge connection for the side walls to thebottom, the ends of the side walls being in the flat blank aligned withthe hinge connections for the end walls to the bottom, the bottom edgesof the of the side walls, the side walls having slits open ing at theirend edges and extending diagonally outward from adjacent their bottomedges, the corner flaps having notches in their side edges oppositetheir hinge connections to the end walls, the said inclined bottom edgesof said corner flaps and the said notches in the said side edges thereoffacilitating entrance of the bottom edges of the corner fiapslthroughsaid slits in said side walls and the engagement of the lower edges ofthe notches in the side edges of the corner flaps with the outer edgesof the said side wall slits and the supporting of the end walls whenerected in supported engagement with the end edges. of the side walls.

3. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprisin abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable onthe outer sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, thebottom edges of the corner flaps in the flat blank being spaced from andoutwardly inclined relative to the end edges of the side walls, the sidewalls having slits opening at their end edges and extending diagonallyoutward therefrom, the outer end portions of the slits being disposed ata less angle than their inner portions, the corner flaps having notchesin their side edges opposite their hinge connections and having inwardlyextendin diagonally disposed slits extending the notches, the saidinclined bottom edges of said corner flaps and the said notches in thesaid side edges thereof facilitating entrance of the bottom edges ofthecorner flaps through said slits in said'side walls and the engagementof the lower edges of the notches and slits in the side edges of thecorner flaps with the outer edges of the said sidewall slits withportions of the corner flaps in interlocking engagement with the sidewalls.

4. A collapsible tray or box formed of an in- 5. tegral blank comprisinga bottom and side and endwalls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable onthe outer sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, thebottom edges of the corner flaps in the flat blank being spaced from andoutwardly inclined relative to the end edges of the side walls, the sidewalls having slits opening at their end edges and extending diagonallyoutward therefrom, the outer end portions of the slits being disposed ata less angle than their inner portions, the corner flaps having inwardlyextending diagonally disposed slits opening to their side edges oppositetheir hinge connections to the end walls, the said inclined bottom edgesof said corner flaps facilitating entrance of the bottom edges of thecorner flaps through said slits in said side walls.

5. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable onthe outer sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, thehinge connections for the corner flaps to the end walls being aligned inthe flat blank with the hinge connection for the side walls to thebottom, the end edges of the side walls in the flat blank having outerportions aligned with the hinge connections for the end walls to thebottom and having inwardly inclined inner portions, the

tending diagonally disposed slits aligned with thelower edges of thenotches, the said inclined bottom edges of said corner flaps and thesaid notches in the said side edges thereof facilitating entrance of thebottom edges of the corner flaps through said slits in said side wallsand the engagement of the lower edges of the notches and slits in theside edges of the corner flaps with the outer edges of the said sidewall slits with portions of the corner flaps interlocking withinportions of the side walls above their slits, and the supporting of theend walls when erected in supported engagement with the endedges of theside walls. Y

6. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable onthe outer sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, thehinge connections for the corner flaps to the end walls being aligned inthe flat blank with the hinge connection for the side walls to thebottom,

the end edges of the side walls in the flat blank being disposed at aless angle than their innerportions, the corner flaps having slitsopening to their side edges opposite their hinge connections to the endwalls, the said inclined bottom edges of said corner flaps facilitatingentrance of the bottom edges of the corner flaps through said slits insaid side walls and the engagement of the lower edges the slits in theside edges of the corner flaps with the outer edges of the said sidewall slits with portions of the corner flaps interlocking withinportions of the side' walls above their slits.

7. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising-abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornernapshingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable on theouter sides of theside walls when they are in erected position, thehinge connections for the corner flaps to the end walls being aligned inthe flat blank with the hinge connection for'the side walls to thebottom, the

side walls having slits opening at their end edges and extendingdiagonally outward from adjacent their bottom edges of the slits beingdisposed at a less ,angle than their portions, the corner flaps havingnotches downwardly inclined from their side edges opposite their hingeconnections and having inwardly extending diagonally disposed slitsaligned with the lower edges of the notches, the lower edges of theslits ofthe corner flaps engegeable with theupper edges of side wallslits with portions of the corner flaps interlocking within portions ofthe side walls above their slits.

8. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable onthe outer sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, theside walls having diagonally disposed inwardly inclined slits opening attheir end edges and having inwardly inclined edge portions extending tothe said slits, the corner flaps having outwardly inclined bottom edgesspaced from the end edges of the side walls in the blank, the cornerflaps having slits downwardly inclined from their side edge oppositefrom their hinge connections and spaced fromtheir bottom edges toprovide up- -swardly directed tongue portions engageable with the innersides of the side walls, the adjacent inclined edges of the corner flapsand the side wall end edges in the blank facilitating the interlockingengagement of the corner flaps with the side walls when the tray iserected.

9. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable onthe outer sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, theside walls having diagonally disposed inwardly inclined slits opening attheir end edges, the corner flaps having outwardly inclined bottom edgesspaced from the end edges of th side walls in the blank, the cornerflaps having slits downwardly inclined from their side edges oppositefrom their hinge connections and spaced from their bottom edges toprovide upwardly directed tongue portions engageable with the innersides of the side walls, the adjacent inclined edges of the corner flapsand the side wall end edges in the blank facilitating the interlockingengagement of the comer flaps with the side walls when the tray iserected.

10. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connectedthereto, andcorner flapshingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable on theouter sidesof the side walls when they are in erected position, the sidewalls having diagonally disposed inwardly inclined slits opening attheir end edges having inwardly inclined edge portions extending to thesaid slits, the bottom edges of the corner flaps being spaced outwardlyin the flat blank from the hinge connections for the end walls to thebottom.

' KENNETH T. BUTTERY.

REFERENCES CITED '1- The following references are of record in the

